Monthly Archives: May 2024

Analyzing the 2023 Bordeaux Market: A Sharp 40% Decline in Haut-Brion

Château Haut-Brion 2023 was released this morning (14 May) alongside other wines from the Domaine Clarence Dillon portfolio. It was released at €312 per bottle ex-négociant, down 39.5% on the en primeur release price of Haut-Brion 2022, according to Liv-ex, a global marketplace for the trade.

Exploring Jean Loron: A Quality-centered Negotiant and Vineyard Owner in Beaujolais and Mâconnais

Website: https://www.loron.fr/en/domaine/chateau-bellevue-en-2/ Maison Jean Loron possess 150 hectares of land (either owned or managed) located in Beaujolais and Bourgogne (Maconnais), inclusive of vineyards in seven of the ten crus. The belief is that from specific terroirs, Gamay can age well, hence, they have stocked 30,000 bottles from the pre-2000 vintages in their cellars. Property owned… Read More »

Exploring Pouilly-Fuissé: A Look at the Premier Cru Tour

Sarah Marsh MW climbs aboard growers’ union president Frédéric Marc Burrier’s Citroën DS for a detailed tour of the Mâconnais appellation’s 22 freshly minted premiers crus. By Sarah Marsh MW It was scorching in Pouilly-Fuissé when I arrived on a June afternoon. Frédéric Marc Burrier was waiting for me outside Château de Beauregard leaning against… Read More »

Exploring the Exquisite Wines of Álvaro Palacios: From Rioja to Bierzo and Priorat

Álvaro Palacios and his daughter Lola, took a trip in town to present their exclusive portfolio which includes properties like Palacios Remondo (Alfaro, Rioja), Álvaro Palacios (Alfaro, Rioja), Álvaro Palacios (Gratallops, Priorat), and Descendientes de J. Palacios (Curullón, Bierzo). The highlight of the presentation was the Rioja project, alongside the premier wines from other districts.… Read More »

Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bags Prestigious Royal Warrant Award

King Charles first visited Champagne Laurent-Perrier with Lord Mountbatten in 1979, and he has always been a fan of the brand. He had previously awarded the Royal Warrant to Laurent-Perrier as Prince of Wales, but he has now bestowed the honour upon the family-run business as His Majesty the King. Alexandra and Stéphanie de Nonancourt,… Read More »

Exploring the Highlights of Thistle and Weed Chenin Blanc Wines

Founded in 2015, Thistle and Weed is a joint venture between the Terblanche and Wiid families, directed by Etienne Terblanche (Viticulturist) and Stephanie Wiid (Winemaker). The brand’s name derives from the persistent presence of weeds nestled within the grapevines cultivated in the Western Cape. The duo liken the resilience and survival of grapevines to thistles… Read More »

Sampling Alvaro Palacios’s New 2023 Releases: A First Taste

The en primeur tasting of the Palacios portfolio is an annual highlight for wine connoisseurs and collectors, merging together premier wines from Priorat, Rioja and Bierzo. The event this year took place in the unique underground cellar at the outstanding Descendientes de J Palacios (DJP) winery in Bierzo, commemorating its 25th anniversary this year.

Assessing the Impact of a Severe Hailstorm on Chablis Wineries

A severe hailstorm struck the Chablis area in northern Burgundy early in May, sparking worries about potential harm to the vineyards. Several producers voiced to French news institutions that the barrage of frosty hailstones on the evening of May 1st had drastically affected them. The weather agency Météo France reported that aggressive ‘supercell’ storms impacted… Read More »

Predicting the Future of Bordeaux Wines

From tourism to biodynamics, how is the region adapting to a changing world? By Michel Bettane Bordeaux has led the way in confronting some of the many challenges facing winegrowers in France, says Michel Bettane. But in other respects it lags far behind. Every wine-growing region in France is worried about the future. The considerable… Read More »